Prince William County schools take 62 Blue Bird propane buses

Prince William County Public Schools has unveiled 62 Blue Bird Vision Propane school buses, its first propane-powered vehicles, following a six-week demonstration programme. The buses are also the first Blue Bird models to be equipped with a standard driver airbag as factory-fitted equipment.

Each 72-passenger bus features an IMMI 4Front driver airbag, a Ford 7.3-litre V8 335-horsepower engine and a ROUSH CleanTech propane fuel system. Propane-powered buses reduce nitrogen oxide emissions by 95% compared with diesel equivalents and eliminate particulate matter output. School districts have reported annual savings of up to US$3,700 per propane bus in fuel and maintenance costs versus diesel.

The order was placed through Blue Bird Bus Sales of Virginia following the demonstration. Blue Bird says it has more than 23,500 propane school buses operating across more than 1,100 districts in North America and is the only US-owned and operated school bus manufacturer in the country.

In a statement, Steve Whaley, Propane Product Segment Leader at Blue Bird Corporation, said: “These buses not only enhance the health of students and the community but also provide exceptional performance and cost savings for the district.”

Source: Blue Bird